NFL draft - Matthew Golden is Packers' first 1st-round WR since '02 - ESPN

GREEN BAY, Wis. — It's hard to say which was more stunning: the surreal sight of the NFL draft in the league's smallest city or the fact that the host Green Bay Packers broke a two-decade-plus streak of skipping on receivers in the first round.

Much to the delight of the Packers-heavy crowd jammed between Lambeau Field and the draft stage, the home team picked receiver Matthew Golden of Texas with the 23rd pick in the draft. It was the first time since 2002 (with Javon Walker) that Green Bay used a first-round pick on a receiver.

As soon as team president Mark Murphy, who announced the pick, began by saying «for the first time since 2022 ...» there was bedlam in the crowd.

Golden even took the podium and shouted: «Green Bay, it's time.»

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For years, fans have pined for the Packers to take a receiver in the first round, but it's not as though the team ignored receivers early in the draft. General manager Gutekunst has twice used second-round picks on the position (Christian Watson in 2022 and Jayden Reed in 2023). Previous GM Ted Thompson also hit on second-round receivers (Greg Jennings in 2006, Jordy Nelson in 2008, Randall Cobb in 2011 and Davante Adams in 2014) since the Packers last used a first rounder under then-coach and GM Mike Sherman. Before that, Ron Wolf found success with later-round receivers like Robert Brooks (third round in 1992), Antonio Freeman (third round in 1995) and Donald Driver (seventh round in 1999).

«I will say this: In no time in my 20-some years within this organization, whether it was Ron or Ted, did I hear them talk about that as a philosophy,» Gutekunst said earlier